Child & Family Research Institute

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2010

December 23, 2010
New clinical model predicts mother’s risk in pre-eclampsia: Online tool could reduce preterm delivery
An online calculator based on a new clinical model will allow clinicians for the first time to accurately predict a pregnant woman’s risk of poor health outcomes such as stroke, blindness and organ failure when she has pre-eclampsia. Dr. Peter von Dadelszen led the research, which was published in The Lancet.

[news release] [calculator]

December 12, 2010
Global BC story on diabetes research
Dr. Bruce Verchere spoke to Global BC about diabetes research.

December 3, 2010
UBC/CFRI project receives $7M to reduce maternal, fetal and newborn deaths
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded a $7-million grant to University of British Columbia researchers, led by Dr. Peter von Dadelszen, working at the Child & Family Research Institute to test new strategies for monitoring, preventing, and treating pre-eclampsia.

[news release] [Globe and Mail story]

December 1, 2010
Immune deficiency explains why preterm babies are vulnerable to infections
New research led by Dr. Pascal Lavoie shows that preterm babies are low in a blood protein called p40 that helps fight bacterial and viral infections, and that babies who developed sepsis had the lowest levels of p40.

[news release] [journal abstract] [Globe and Mail story]
[interview with Prof Talk on UBC's CiTR 101.9FM]

November 30, 2010
New funding for research on population health interventions
The work of Dr. Louise Masse is among 14 research projects to receive new funding, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) announced today.

[CIHR news release]

November 25, 2010
CFRI Investigators awarded Canada Research Chairs
Dr. Liisa Holsti was awarded a new Canada Research Chair in Neonatal Health and Development, Dr. Steven Miller was awarded a new Canada Research Chair in Neonatal Neuroscience, and Dr. Jehannine Austin was awarded a new Canada Research Chair in Translational Psychiatric Genetics, the federal government announced yesterday. Renewed Canada Research Chairs were announced for Dr. Ron Barr, Dr. Geoffrey Hammond and Dr. Glen Tibbits. [more...]

[Canada Research Chairs news release] [UBC news release]

October 5, 2010
T cell discovery shows promise for Type 1 diabetes treatment: UBC-CFRI study
A research team from the University of British Columbia and the Child & Family Research Institute (CFRI) at BC Children’s Hospital has identified the role of a type of T cell in type 1 diabetes that may lead to new treatment options for young patients.

[news release] [journal abstract]

October 4, 2010
Is it time to phase out codeine?
Dr. Stuart MacLeod comments in an editorial in the Canadian Medical Association Journal that it's time to phase out codeine as a pain reliever because of its significant risks and its ineffectiveness as an analgesic.

[CMAJ news release] [CMAJ editorial] [Montreal Gazette story]
[CBC.ca story] [CTV.ca story]

October 2010
Heal or harm? The truth about prescription drugs
Today's Parent magazine features a profile on the work of Dr. Bruce Carleton, Dr. Michael Hayden and Dr. Rod Rasskeh and how their research is improving drug safety for children.

[Today's Parent story]

August 7, 2010
Technology allows doctors to peek inside baby's brain
The front page of the Saturday Globe and Mail featured a story on
Dr. Steven Miller's research, which is part of an international effort using the latest imaging technology to find ways of protecting the brain development of premature babies.

[Globe and Mail story]

July 27, 2010
New national team awarded $2M to reduce childhood injury
Dr. Ian Pike is leading the CIHR Team in Child and Youth Injury Prevention with $2 million in funding over five years from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); Alberta Centre for Child, Family & Community Research; and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

[news release] [video] [backgrounder]

July 12, 2010
Globe and Mail article: access to orphan drugs for rare diseases
Dr. Lorne Clarke comments on the need for a national policy in Canada.

[Globe and Mail story]

July 8, 2010
Research project awarded federal funding to develop painless ways of monitoring drugs
Dr. Mary Ensom's research project has been awarded funding for research on developing painless ways of monitoring drugs that isn't based on blood sampling. The research project is supported by the Collaborative Health Research Projects Program, which is jointly funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

[View the UBC media release] [CBC news story]

June 25, 2010

Toronto Star story on early puberty
Dr. Dina Panagiotopoulos comments on the research into puberty and whether parents should be concerned about their children showing early signs of puberty. [Toronto Star story]

June 4, 2010
CTV News story on window safety for kids
Dr. Shelina Babul-Wellar speaks about what parents can do to keep their children safe when around open windows.

June 1, 2010
Global BC TV story on cystic fibrosis research
Dr. Stuart Turvey talks about cystic fibrosis research at the Child & Family Research Institute and BC Children's Hospital in the lead up to BC Children's Hospital Miracle Weekend.

May 31, 2010
Global BC TV story on childhood cancer and blood research
Dr. Kirk Schultz talks about research at the Child & Family Research Institute and BC Children's Hospital in the lead up to the 23rd annual
BC Children's Hospital Miracle Weekend.

May 31, 2010
Got Wheels? Get a Helmet: BC Children’s Hospital marks
Safe Kids Week May 31 – June 5
Dr. Shelina Babul-Wellar, Associate Director & Sports Injury Specialist, BC Injury Research & Prevention Unit, CFRI speaks to the importance of bike helmets [more...]

May 19, 2010
New UBC Acting Associate Dean, Research, CFRI
Dr. Jan Friedman, CFRI's Acting Executive Director, has been appointed Acting Associate Dean, Research, CFRI, with the UBC Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Stuart MacLeod stepped down from this position earlier this year to focus his attention on his role as Vice President, Academic Liaison and Research, PHSA, and on his interests in health policy and international child health research. [more...]

May 17, 2010
Dr. Matthew Farrer appointed inaugural Canada Excellence Research Chair at UBC: up to $10M towards research in Parkinson’s, neurodegenerative disorders in adults and children
The University of British Columbia, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child & Family Research Institute and the Brain Research Centre today welcomed Dr. Matthew Farrer as UBC's first Canada Excellence Research Chair in Neurogenetics and Translational Neuroscience. Nineteen inaugural chairholders at 13 universities were announced earlier today in Toronto.

[news release] [backgrounder] [CBC story] [World Journal story]

May 13, 2010
Congratulation CFRI Members Awarded Funding From CFI
Congratulations to the following members who recently received funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation through the Leaders Opportunity Fund:

Dr. Chinten James Lim, $125,000 ~ Project : Advanced Imaging Microscope Suite. Dr. Lim is with CFRI's Childhood Cancer and Immunity in Health & Disease research clusters.
Dr. Francis Lynn and Dr. Brad Hoffman, $250,000 ~ Project: Beta Cell Genesis Research Facility. Dr. Lynn is with CFRI's Diabetes, Nutrition & Metabolism research cluster.

[more...]

April 30, 2010
Dr. Dawn McArthur is co-nominated for a YWCA Vancouver Women of Distinction Award 2010
Dr. Dawn McArthur, CFRI Senior Research Development Facilitator, was co-nominated for a YWCA Vancouver Women of Distinction Award in the Education, Training & Development category along with her colleague and former co-worker, Dr. Sara Swenson, Senior Research Grants Facilitator and CFI Coordinator at Simon Fraser University.

March 26, 2010
CFRI scientist renewed as the Canada Research Chair in Pediatric Gastroenterology
Dr. Bruce Vallance investigates inflammatory bowel disease, liver disorders and acid related disorders.

[UBC media release]

March 15, 2010
CFRI is pleased to welcome Ms. Kathryn Hayashi to the
Board of Directors
Ms. Hayashi is the Chief Financial Officer of the Centre for Drug Research and Development (CDRD). [more...]

March 12, 2010
Cord-blood banks oversell value: Marketplace
Health claims made by private cord-blood banks to persuade parents to save their baby's umbilical cord blood can overstate the benefits, according to an investigation by CBC-TV's Marketplace. Dr. Kirk Schultz, head of CFRI's Childhood Cancer research cluster is interviewed.

[CBC.ca article] [Marketplace story]

March 3, 2010
A warning about children and vitamins
A study by Dr. Ran Goldman, CFRI Senior Associate Clinician Scientist, recommends that pediatric emergency room physicians check children's vitamin intake to avoid adverse drug reactions. [more...]

March 1, 2010
First, Do No Harm: The Children's Hospital doctors are fighting for a revolutionary approach to health care
Vancouver Magazine profiles the research of Dr. Bruce Carleton, CFRI Senior Clinician Scientist, and Dr. Michael Hayden, Director, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics.

[Vancouver Magazine article] [Vancouver Magazine Editor's Note]

February 22, 2010
Mom's antidepressants may delay baby's first steps:
Toddlers still within normal range of development
CFRI Scientist Dr. Tim Oberlander comments on new research about the use of antidepressants during pregnancy and the potential impact on the baby's development.

[Reuters Health article]

February 1, 2010
Motor-skill activities hold promise of rewiring children's damaged brains
Includes comments from Dr. Sterling Clarren, CFRI Scientist Level 3, about NeuroDevNet, a new national centre of excellence that will research the genetic and environmental causes of cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorders and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

[Globe and Mail story]

January 27, 2010
Prenatal alcohol exposure can alter the brain's developing pain regulatory system
A new study of 28 infants suggests that exposure to alcohol during pregnancy affects the baby's developing pain regulatory system. CFRI scientist Dr. Tim Oberlander is one of the study's corresponding authors. Results will be published in the April 2010 issue of the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research and are currently available online at journal's Early View.

[news release] [Canada.com story]
[Business Week story] [Palm Beach Post story]

January 27, 2010
Discovery of mechanism in brain cell injury in Huntington's offers new treatment approaches
Scientists at the Brain Research Centre and the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics at CFRI have uncovered a key cellular mechanism that alters brain cell function in Huntington's disease, and identified a possible treatment for the disease. The results of the study were published online today and will appear in the January 28 edition of the journal Neuron. Dr. Michael Hayden co-authored the study.

[news release]

January 13, 2010
Study recommends vitamins A, E, D, folic acid and niacin be considered over-the-counter drugs
Although vitamins are usually safe for the majority of people, vitamins can cause harm if they’re not used appropriately, reports a new study led by Dr. Ran Goldman, CFRI Senior Associate Clinician Scientist. The study consisted of a literature review of 148 studies published between 1966 – 2009. The results are published online as an article ahead of print in The Annals of Pharmacotherapy and will be in the journal's February print issue.

[journal abstract] [CTV.ca story]